Grace’s entire body trembled like a rattling leaf, her pale lips quivering as she spoke through ragged breaths, Her silver–streaked veins pulse grotesquely beneath her skin, and her usual haughty expression had been replaced with one of sheer exhaustion. Yet, even on death’s door, she somehow
managed to summon her old arrogance.
“Scarlett,” she rasped, her voice barely above a whisper. “Do… do you feel it? The power you’ve gained? Does it satisfy you?”
I crossed my arms. “Get to the point, Grace. I don’t have all day to listen to your pathetic attempts at making conversation
Her lips trembled downward, as if I’d struck her, but her pale blue eyes burned with a fleeting spark of defiance. “You shouldn’t you shouldn’t have
stayed, Scarlett. You should have left the Northern territories when you had the chance.
I smirked coldly. “Why? So you can continue pulling strings behind the scenes? So you can keep hiding every dirty secret you’ve buried?”
“You don’t understand, she snapped, though her voice cracked pitifully. She winced, clutching her aching ribs, but forced the words out. “You don’t know the enemies you’ve made. Dangerous ones. Wolves who will shred you apart the moment you slip up.”
“Spare me the warnings, Grace” I said with a roll of my eyes. “You’re not scaring me, and you’re certainly not convincing me to leave. If you’re hoping
for pity let me assure you, you’ll die waiting for it.”
She coughed violently, her frail body seizing as she struggled to catch her breath. Fresh silver–tinged sweat dripped from her temples, but she managed to glare at me through the haze of her suffering.
“You think this is a game,” she whispered coldly. “You build your little empire, treat this like some challenge to overcome. But but Sarah, Daniel..
even Alexander… they won’t let you win.”
My lips curled into a cruel smile. “Let me win? You’re foolish if you think I need their permission for anything” leaned forward slightly, narrowing my emerald eyes. “And as for you, Grace, let me make one thing clear I’m not going anywhere. Not now, and certainly not because of empty threats from
someone who’s too weak to even stand
That seemed to strike a nerve. Her face twisted with anger, but it quickly dissolved as she broke into another coughing t
For a moment, I thought I might have pushed her too far. Her body began to jerk violently, her pale hands clutching at the edges of the bed. A strangled noise bubbled up from her throat, broken and sharp
“Dramatic as always I muttered, shaking my head as I turned to leave. But then, something caught my eye.
Her body convulsed, arching unnaturally
the silver streaks beneath her skin pulsed and spread faster than before. Her mouth opened, but instead
of words, a horrifying gurgling sound escaped. A streak of blood trickled down her lips, stark against her pale complexion.
For a fleeting second, I stood frozen. Was this another ploy? Another calculated performance to elicit sympathy? Grace was clever, but this this
looked too real.
The crash of the door swinging open jolted me back into reality.
“Grace!” Alexander’s shout was raw, his voice thick with desperation as he rushed into the room. His ambar eyes widened in panic as he took in her state. “What’s happening?!”
I stepped back, letting him have his moment.
“Grace, no–stay with me!” he begged, his trembling hands gripping her shoulders in an attempt to steady her
Sarah barrelled into the room next, a horrified scream tearing from her throat. My baby!” she wailed, rushing to Grace’s side. Her shaking hands fluttered helplessly over her daughter’s convulsing form. “What’s happening to her?! Someone help her!”
The room descended into chaos as medical staff poured in, shouting commands and trying to maneuver Alexander and Sarah out of the way Monitors began to beep urgently, the sound sharp and grating as the situation grew more frantic
“She needs stabilization! Move her to the emergency chamber now!” one of the doctors ordered sharply.
Two nurses rushed forward with a stretcher, carefully lifting Grace from the bed. Alexander hesitated, torn between clinging to her and letting the
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professionals do their job
en aside.”
“Alexander” one of the nurses said firmly “You need to step
Reluctantly he let them take her. His hands hovered uselessly in the air before falling to his sides.
11 come with you” he said, his voice trembling as he trailed after them
As they disappeared through the door, Sarah spun on me like a feral animal. Her grief twisted into fury, her pale blue eyes blazing with hatred.
“This is your fault!” she screamed, pointing a shaking
gfinger at me. “You did this to her! You’re the reason shes–she’s in this state?”
“Are you serious right now?” I asked, arching an eyebrow. “Grace’s condition is because of her own reckless choices. I didn’t force her to lie, cheat, or poison herself with whatever deals she’s made.”
Don’t you dare try to deflect Sarah snarled, stepping closer. Her once pristine composure was completely broken, her face wild with anger–the anger of a mother who needed someone to blame. “You pushed her! You came here and provoked her deliberately! You wanted this to happen!” 7 confronted her with the truth, Sarah I said coldly. “If that’s what you call provoking, then so be it. But don’t try to pin her mistakes on me. “You’re a monster” she screeched. “Daniell Get her out of here! Call the council Call the enforcers! She has to pay for
this!”
Daniel appeared in the doorway, his expression torn as his gaze flicked between his furious mother and “Daniel, now!” Sarah barked. Her voice cracked under the weight of her desperation.
my c
y calm stance.
For a moment, he hesitated. I could see the doubt flickering in his eyes–doubt about this entire situation. But then, as if the pressure was too much, he finally reached for his phone
“Fine” he muttered, avoiding my gam ‘T’ll call the council”
I rolled my eyes, unfazed by the theatrics unfolding around me. Let them call whoever they wanted. Roman’s protection had already rendered their threats meaningless
Sarah glared at me as Daniel made the call, her lips curling into a snarl “You’ll regret ever crossing my family. Scarlett, Mark my words.”
I met her gaze with a smirk, tilting my head slightly. “Let me know how that works out for you”
suggested. The towering walls seemed to press down on me, and
The Winter Pack’s judgment chamber was as cold and unwelcoming as its name suggested. The the circle of council members surrounding me radiated disapproval.
They sat stiff and rigid in their chairs, their eyes boring into me as they muttered amongst themselves. Though I couldn’t make out their exact words, it wasn’t hard to guess. They thought i was guilty. They thought I was responsible for Grace’s condition.
“Miss Winters,” one of the senior council members finally spoke, his voice deep and authoritative. “You have been formally accused of provoking and accelerating Grace Winter’s condition. If these accusations prove true, the consequences will be severe.”
I crossed my legs casually, leaning back in my chair. “And?”
The councilman frowned at my dismissive tone. “And we require your cooperation. Refusing to answer these accusations will not-”
“I’m not refusing, I interjected, my voice calm but firm. Tm simply waiting”
“Waiting,” he repeated, his tone skeptical.
I nodded. For my partner to arrive. He’ll clear this up so
soon enough”
The council exchanged uneasy glances. A younger member leaned forward, his brow furrowed as he addressed me. “Miss Winters, do you understand the gravity of this situation? This chamber represents-
“Oh, I understand perfectly, I said with a mocking smile. This chamber represents the laws of the Northern territories. How impressive. But let me remind you.” I leaned forward, lowering my voice to a deadly whisper. The Northern territories have their limits. The Shadow Organization does not.”
The room fell into a heavy silence. My words hung in the air like a storm about to break, and for a moment, even the council seemed unsure of how to proceed.
But before anyone could respond, a loud crash shattered the tense stillness,
The massive double doors of the chamber twung open with a deafening force, the metal hinges groaning under the strain. İnstratenses
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Chapter 70 Accusations and Revelations
was filed with a suffocating aura–the kind of power that demanded submission.
